I thought after last week's busy schedule that this week would be easier and slower for us. Ok, I was wrong! It's awesome to be busy while serving on a mission, but it is also nice to have a little down time to relax and reflect on life. One of my weekly planned items that keeps me so busy is preparing for the weekly Book of Mormon class that my branch president has asked me to teach. We also had the privilege this week to minister to several different branch members. So between those and our calling as missionaries, we were busy again.
I would like to start this week's blog by talking about the weather here in Limerick. When we arrived here in July, the summer weather was more than comfortable, between 70-74 degrees. By mid-August, the weather turned hot here. The Irish people in town made me laugh because they were seriously dying over 75-80 degree heat. When we would tell them that in Utah, where we were from, the state continued to have over 20 plus days of temperatures over 100 degrees! These people would just stare at us in unbelief. The amazing thing was that on September 1, 2022, the weather did an about turn and fall was permanently here to stay.
The fall seasons in Ireland are very unpredictable. This fall certainly falls into that category. After September 1st, the weather here got colder and windier. It also started to rain almost every day; some days raining all day long. In reality, since the first of September, we have probably had less than 7 days of sunshine. One reason for this, I feel, is how quickly storms move across this island. In the video below taken just days ago, one can see the clouds of that morning racing across the sky. It's almost incredible to see in person. Click on the link below to watch my 5 second recording. You may have to click on the link twice to activate it.
Now that it is November, there is more chill in the air and much more rain. It is just simply cold and damp here now. Branch members are stating that winter is just around the corner, but we are also told to not expect too much snow. Most of the winter weather is rain, rain and more rain. I am ready for whatever comes, because the sooner it comes, maybe the sooner it will stop and bring more sunshine back to this part of the earth. When the rain clouds do part, especially at sunset, this is what could appear. Beautiful!
Sunset after a long day of rain
Let me tell you what Elder and I did this past week that kept us so busy. This last weekend was a mission transfer weekend for most of the young elders and sisters in our district. Our elders assigned here in Limerick, who are zone leaders, didn't get a transfer call this time. Because of that, they did not have anything pending to do later on their P-day, so they asked us if we would take them to one of the nearby castles. Of course we said yes and ended up having a great day with them.
We took the elders to Bunratty castle, about 20 minutes away. Neither one of them had ever been there before. It was good to go back there except for the ton of rain and large puddles we walked through for hours. I was able to take a few more photos, including photos of these stalwart elders hamming it up!
Part of a display of the Bunratty castle depicted what the castle looked like in 1450
This is Elder Hardy in terrible again! I see his confession in his face
And of course, where ever Elder Hardy goes, his sidekick, Elder Larrubia, also needs to follow.
One of the stained glass windows inside the castle
Fall leaves near a waterfall just outside of the castle walls
On Monday night we had our YSA FHE. This night was fun because we all went out to eat pizza. Eight of us showed up to a local pizza shop. Knowing that Elder Muirhead would want a ham and pineapple pizza (his favorite!), I went out before and purchased him a can of pineapple chunks. He spread them all over his pizza and then went to town. He was a very happy man that night. The rest of the gang settled on pepperoni pizzas with garlic cheese sticks.
Notice that the girls are all pretty posing, while the boys are doing arm wrestling contests. Notice that Elder Muirhead is engaged one even as this photo was taken.
On Tuesday, we were called by a branch member just before lunch to see if we had some time that day to drive out to their new house to help clean and paint. We said yes, knowing that we could rearrange a few things in order to go and be of some help to them. They live one hour away out in the south countryside of Ireland. Though we had a beautiful drive out to their home, we forgot about all the very narrow roads that exist in-between us and them. Our trip to their home certainly reminded us of that nuisance.
When we got there, I was asked to sweep up 5 upper rooms and a hallway for new carpet installation. With all my years of experience with construction, I knew exactly what to do. I even had to scrape high spots in several areas. I found the task very enjoyable and rewarding. After I finished, I was asked to vacuum all floor areas and baseboards to complete the job. With time still left, I joined Elder Muirhead who was painting baseboards in the master bedroom. As I got back to our car, I was totally covered with construction dust from my head to my feet. Good thing I am basically wash and wear!
Cleaning up new bedrooms before carpet is installed
The same branch member who asked us to come out and help clean and paint her home called me later that same night and asked me if I could teach her early morning (6:30 am) seminary class. Of course, I said yes. Fortunately, without knowing the lesson before I agreed, I discovered that of all the lessons to be taught, I scored on the morning of a easy lesson. I was asked to teach about the Law of Tithing and the Law of the Fast. This seminary class is a zoom meeting for all the appropriately aged youth in all of the Southern Ireland district. I think I had about 25-30 students that morning on zoom with me. The lesson went well. The youth participated in answering questions and saying both prayers. What made me smile was that all but 2 of these students had their zoom cameras off, so I really couldn't tell if they were really engaged or went back to bed to fall asleep!
One of our branch members, Sister Byrne, a lovely woman about my age, has been in a hospital now for several weeks. Sister Byrne has a history of several health conditions, including a ongoing infection. While admitted, Elder and I have either gone up to personally visit her or have called her just to chat. This week, due to the extra opportunities that we were given to serve, I just called her. We chatted for quite a while. It was good for me to share my time and love for her. My prayer she that she will come home quickly.
Because of the missionary transfers this week, we had our district training meeting on Thursday morning instead. All of our missionaries arrived safely to Limerick except our new senior couple who were excused. We did get the extra two elders who will be serving now in Cork and Tralee. We also got new district leaders assigned to us. What I haven't told you is only the senior couples and the zone leaders have cars in this area now. That means that all but two of the young elders and sisters have to get up extra early to take either the train or the bus from their assigned area to come to Limerick to meet together. After meetings, they all get transported back to catch either the train or bus back. Talk about dedication. The two new elders that arrived this week came straight out of the Provo MTC and flew right to Ireland. That hasn't happened in a long time. Before now, all new missionaries assigned to Ireland after finishing their MTC experience, had been assigned somewhere in the states for a short time before they were allowed to come to Ireland.
Twelve of the finest young adults you will ever meet!!
On Thursday, we got a letter in the mail stating that we needed to purchase a license for our TV set. It was sent from and is regulated by the Irish post office. I wrote them a letter and told them that we did not have a TV and would not have one while we are here. I never noticed that before we got this letter, that we have a satellite dish mounted to our flat roof. They thanked me for my effort in notifying them, but needed me to fill out a more official form and then hand it back to someone in the main post office. It cost 160 Euro a year to have a TV in you flat. If you are caught not declaring that you have a TV (and skipping paying for the license), you will be fined and the fine ranges from 1,000-2,000 Euros.
Letter to license a TV set in Ireland
Later Thursday night found us at one of our neighbor's flat with the missionaries. Elder had befriended a young couple expecting their first child and asked if the elders could come and give them a lesson. They agreed. The husband is religious, but his wife stated that she was an atheist. The young husband did most of the talking that night. He asked the elders some very important questions like "What makes your religion different than mine?" or "What does your book (Book of Mormon) mean to you?" Unfortunately, as the elders started to answer both of these great questions, the husband would take over the conversation, never allowing the questions to be fully answered. The husband stated that he was very happy with his beliefs at this time, but wanted us to know that he would be willing to help us out as a friend any time that he could if needed. After, the four of us missionaries decided to see if we could see them again and tell them about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Time will tell.
My branch friend, who is the single mother that I have discussed several times already, whose name is Sister Smirnoff, took a bold step recently and enrolled to educate herself as a EMT. She had to cross several huge obstacles to do this, but every time, the Lord's hand was seen in her life. On Friday, she asked us to see her to help her with her first written assignment that is worth 30% of this semester's grade. She is from Lithuania and struggles a little still with the English language. We worked with her for just over an hour and helped her get through about a third of her project. As her friend, I couldn't be happier for her to be able to earn the education needed for a good paying career in a subject that interests her very much. With her permission, I post her picture.
Sister Smirnoff
After we left Sister Smirnoff's flat, we went over to a local pharmacy to get our flu vaccines. As I have aged, I understand more and more the importance of getting vaccinated as appropriate. When I was a child/teenager and my father being a doctor, back in the late 1950's-early 1960's, my dad would get the latest and greatest vaccines "known to man"! Us children received a vaccination for something about every other month back then. Did you know that back then, they even had a vaccination for the common cold? Yep, they did and we got that shot annually too! I'm certainly glad that those days are gone.
As scheduled, every Friday evening is my Book of Mormon class. This week was exciting because we were joined by four branch members on the zoom link that we had been given to use. Having members join us by zoom will be a great help to many to join as the winter months set in. This class is not only for the opportunity to gain greater knowledge of the Book of Mormon, but to increase the branch's unity and love for one another.
On Saturday, one of our YSA's needed to leave her college flat for a major repair to be completed on the University of Limerick Campus. Emma, came over early that morning and spent the day with us. By mid morning, Emma and I walked over to the Milk Market to meet her best friend from campus there. Emma tried to call her by phone throughout the morning, but could never get her to answer. We walked around the market, but never could find her, though we found our that she was seen there by one of the vendors. Funny enough, we later found out that the three of us were literally a hundred feet apart from each other at one point, but never saw one another. Even though Emma could not spend time with her friend, I had a great time with Emma.
Emma is here at the university to study violin. While she spent time in out flat, she entertained us with several numbers. She is sooooooo good! What a treat. After we had dinner, we spent another 30 minutes or so together and then Elder and I walked her to her bus stop to get her back home. I believe that we all had a very pleasant day together.
Emma playing her violin for us
Before I end this week's blog, I want to also tell you about a recent Limerick branch youth temple trip that happened last weekend. I know that we annually hear about the great sacrifices that the Utah pioneers made so long ago, but the following is a modern day account. Sixteen youth, along with six adults, left very early last Friday morning (missing school) to travel to the Preston, England temple to do baptisms and confirmations. They traveled one way by bus and plane for TEN hours to get there! The cost to even get them there (which can only be done annually because of the time and cost involved) was several thousands of dollars. After traveling all day, they reached the temple grounds that night and were quickly whisked inside to meet their appointed time.
Our awesome youth with our good branch president in front of the Preston, England temple
When they first arrived, the temple asked the leaders which stake they were representing. The leaders explained that they were only one small branch from Ireland and not a stake. The temple leaders were shocked at their dedication, because typically a group that large is a stake and not just a branch! All of the youth got to participate in either performing the ordinances or witnessing for exactness. After their time that evening had expired, they went over to the on-grounds housing for a quick dinner and then bedtime.
They all were awoken early the next morning for another baptism/confirmation session before they had to catch the bus to the airport, fly back to Dublin and then bus back to Limerick, another ten plus hours of traveling. After hearing all of this, my heart remembered how so very easy it is for Elder and myself to drive the seven minute drive to get to our own Provo temple. Even more marvelous is the amazing FamilySearch online program and the ease of temple name preparation. Greater gratitude filled my soul, not only for the many blessings that Elder and I have being surrounded by so many temples at home, but for each and every one of these youth, who have chosen to live a life worthy of a temple recommend and for their great love and diligence for the Lord and those whose names were taken to the temple in that 24 hour period.
I want to close this week by challenging each of us, depending on our separate challenges, to make whatever changes we need to be better, to be of more use for the Lord. We think of you daily. We again pray for all of you at every opportunity. We love you all so much. We are greatly supported by your love and prayers on our behalf. We actually feel it! We are truly blessed to serve here in Limerick at this time. Good things are coming here quickly, we know this. Humbly, we desire to also be better, to be more use for the Lord and to come closer to Him on a daily basis. May God prevail!
As always, love from Ireland 💗
This was such a lovely post! I enjoyed the picture of Elder Muirhead arm wrestling and the picture of Sister Muirhead cleaning the room under construction. Loved the inspiring stories of Sister Smirnoff and the example of the Limerick Branch in attending the temple in England. Keep up the wonderful work!
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